Oslo Shipping Forum, Nor-Shipping

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Tradewinds’ Fifth Oslo Shipping Forum, scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, gathers industry leaders to focus on Norwegian shipping and the new financial landscape.

In an uncertain market characterized by falling freight rates, tonnage oversupply and fierce competition, the Norwegian shipping industry faces significant challenges. The Fifth Oslo Shipping Forum, organised by Nor-Shipping 2009 Conference Partner Tradewinds, has assembled leading industry voices to focus on how the Norwegian shipping industry can succeed in the current tumultuous markets.

Organised into four sessions, presentations at the day-long event will focus on a board range of topics, including profiles of companies which have found success, the pros and cons of industry consolidation, the industry’s relationship to the Norwegian government and what legacy the current generation of shipowners will leave behind. While issues related to the global financial crisis will be the primary focus, the event will also feature presentations highlighting the evolving political, environmental and competitive issues likely to be impacted by the new market reality.

The Forum, which has become a regular fixture in the Norwegian shipping calendar since it was first introduced in 2005, a has attracted a some of the industry’s leading voices, including Moritz Skaugen, President and CEO IM Skaugen, George Economou, Chairman, President and CEO of DryShips Inc, Jens Ismar, CEO Western Bulk, Tore Ulstein, Deputy CEO the Ulstein Group and Ingar Skaug, Group CEO Wilh. Wilhelmsen.

The event also features a broad range of politicians, analysts and finance specialists, including Peter Anker, CEO, RS Platou, Rikke Lind, Norway’s Vice Minister of Trade & Industry, Carl E. Steen, Head of Shipping, Oil Services & International Division, Nordea Bank and Torger Reve, Professor, Department of Strategy and Logistics at BI Norwegian School of Management.

Other events organized around Nor-Shipping 2009 include the Marine Electronics & Communications Conference and the presentation of Safety At Sea International’s AMVER Award on June 10 and the Fourth International Ship Management Summit and the Offshore Support Journal Conference, scheduled for June 11. Nor Shipping’s Opening Conference, entitled “From Crisis to Opportunity: Shipping role in the fight against Climate Change” is scheduled for June 9.